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Never Too Late
Far from being brokenhearted when her long-standing and rather dull engagement to Tony came to an end, Prudence welcomed it as an opportunity to break out of her comfortable shell, to make a new and exciting life for herself. So the job that Benedict van Vinke offered--acting as his secretary and looking after his little daughter--had come just at the right time. It would also give Prudence a chance to visit Holland. But would she have such an exciting life, after all, if she accepted Benedict's cold-blooded proposal?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
65 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
564 books418 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 7, 2021
A low-angst MoC tale from Betty, from 1983. The RDD hero, Benedict, is one of Betty’s nice guys, no cold blue eyes, sneers, and benign neglect here--he shares aspects of his life and work quite readily with the heroine, unlike certain BN heroes, who do their best to keep their MoC brides on the sidelines.
Our beautiful, red-haired/green-eyed heroine (amusingly named Prudence because she is anything but once she meets Benedict) is engaged to a pompous ass when she and the hero first meet at her sister’s wedding (she’s Maid of Honor and he’s Best Man). But Prudence is fed up both with her lingered-too-long engagement and with her smug, selfish fiance in general, so she dumps him pretty quickly. She’s decided she needs to break out of her stay-at-home life (since like so many BN heroines before her, she is stuck in some Victorian time-space continuum where she has stayed home to help her vicar father until she marries). The hero hires her as a general PA/au pair (reassuring her parents with his utter respectability and the presence of his live-in house staff as chaperones). And Prudence is off to Holland, where she pretty much assumes the duties of a BN MoC wife: flower arranging, mothering his daughter, helping with his correspondence.
The heroine is already falling in love with Benedict but doesn’t really realize it, thinking only how much she really really really likes him. She surprised when he asks her to marry him after several weeks, for friendship and companionship for himself and daughter Sibella, but she agrees after thinking it over, because she realizes she’s happy with them and thinks it can work. (Also, I always feel that BN heroines have a strong practical streak that reminds them that living in luxury, surrounded by beautiful old possessions and faithful family retainers to appreciate, while not a primary reason for marrying, is a compelling reason on their list of considerations.)
The relationship between Benedict and Prudence is friendly and he, unlike many a BN hero, actually enjoys sharing the details of his work with her and coming home to her warm companionship and the happy circle she makes with his daughter. But Prudence, realizing that she’s fallen in love with Benedict, soon wants more than just a marriage of friends, and resolves to make him fall in love with her as well. There’s some mild OW/OM drama that gets tied up quickly:
All that remains is for the hero and heroine to declare their mutual assurances of love, and it takes a lecture tour of England to give them the opportunity (amusingly, they stay with the good doctor’s colleagues along the tour and there’s always a convenient dressing room for him to sleep in). Finally, they straighten things out at Warwick castle, and mutual avowals of love and references to future children assure us of an HEA (and Betty slips in a pretty funny moment, to boot, amidst all the hearts and flowers:
Not a top BN read for me, but a pleasant outing with likable MCs and plot moppet. The MCs in this one spend a lot of time together and it’s believable that their mutual regard and attraction turns into something stronger as they discover that they have much in common but enjoy their differences of opinion too. Betty relies less on the Big Misunderstandings and OW/OM drama than she does in some other stories, and while it makes for less angst than in some of her books, the need for the hero and heroine to get to know one another before really committing to love and marriage is believable and a nice slow burn. A solid, if quieter, one from Betty, less memorable than some but still an enjoyable, comfortable read.
Heroic car porn:
A suh-weeet and sexy Aston Martin Volante that I lust for:
Our beautiful, red-haired/green-eyed heroine (amusingly named Prudence because she is anything but once she meets Benedict) is engaged to a pompous ass when she and the hero first meet at her sister’s wedding (she’s Maid of Honor and he’s Best Man). But Prudence is fed up both with her lingered-too-long engagement and with her smug, selfish fiance in general, so she dumps him pretty quickly. She’s decided she needs to break out of her stay-at-home life (since like so many BN heroines before her, she is stuck in some Victorian time-space continuum where she has stayed home to help her vicar father until she marries). The hero hires her as a general PA/au pair (reassuring her parents with his utter respectability and the presence of his live-in house staff as chaperones). And Prudence is off to Holland, where she pretty much assumes the duties of a BN MoC wife: flower arranging, mothering his daughter, helping with his correspondence.
The heroine is already falling in love with Benedict but doesn’t really realize it, thinking only how much she really really really likes him. She surprised when he asks her to marry him after several weeks, for friendship and companionship for himself and daughter Sibella, but she agrees after thinking it over, because she realizes she’s happy with them and thinks it can work. (Also, I always feel that BN heroines have a strong practical streak that reminds them that living in luxury, surrounded by beautiful old possessions and faithful family retainers to appreciate, while not a primary reason for marrying, is a compelling reason on their list of considerations.)
The relationship between Benedict and Prudence is friendly and he, unlike many a BN hero, actually enjoys sharing the details of his work with her and coming home to her warm companionship and the happy circle she makes with his daughter. But Prudence, realizing that she’s fallen in love with Benedict, soon wants more than just a marriage of friends, and resolves to make him fall in love with her as well. There’s some mild OW/OM drama that gets tied up quickly:
All that remains is for the hero and heroine to declare their mutual assurances of love, and it takes a lecture tour of England to give them the opportunity (amusingly, they stay with the good doctor’s colleagues along the tour and there’s always a convenient dressing room for him to sleep in). Finally, they straighten things out at Warwick castle, and mutual avowals of love and references to future children assure us of an HEA (and Betty slips in a pretty funny moment, to boot, amidst all the hearts and flowers:
Not a top BN read for me, but a pleasant outing with likable MCs and plot moppet. The MCs in this one spend a lot of time together and it’s believable that their mutual regard and attraction turns into something stronger as they discover that they have much in common but enjoy their differences of opinion too. Betty relies less on the Big Misunderstandings and OW/OM drama than she does in some other stories, and while it makes for less angst than in some of her books, the need for the hero and heroine to get to know one another before really committing to love and marriage is believable and a nice slow burn. A solid, if quieter, one from Betty, less memorable than some but still an enjoyable, comfortable read.
Heroic car porn:
A suh-weeet and sexy Aston Martin Volante that I lust for:
June 8, 2021
hmmmm...... I can't even say this was average. I struggled with the H/h. They never really came to life which is unusual for a Neel's book. Sibelus, the hero's daughter and plot moppet, was much more entertaining and interesting.
I didn't like the hero, Benedict. For someone supposedly in love, he sure could have fooled me. He also took advantage of the heroine's work ethics. The only things going for him were 1) his looks, and 2) his millionaire wallet. I can't say I blame the first wife for running off.
I'd recommend a pass on this one.
I didn't like the hero, Benedict. For someone supposedly in love, he sure could have fooled me. He also took advantage of the heroine's work ethics. The only things going for him were 1) his looks, and 2) his millionaire wallet. I can't say I blame the first wife for running off.
I'd recommend a pass on this one.
May 15, 2017
Prudence Trent is a tall redhead quite satisfied with her life - living at home with her parents in their country village, helping her father with his parish work and her mother around the house. Her younger sister, Nancy is on the verge of getting married while Prudence is engaged to a young architect, Tony. Unfortunately, Prudence has begun to get a little irritated with Tony's attitude of taking her for granted and never setting a wedding date. In truth, Tony is pompous and self-important, a fact which is made clear to Prudence when she meets the best man at her sisters wedding, Benedict van Vinke, our requisite RDD.
Tony's behavior at and following the wedding make up Prudence his mind: she is going to find a job and break up with Tony. Benedict offers her a job at his home as a personal assistant. His home by the way is in Appeldoorn, Holland, and he has a young daughter, Sibella.
Prudence quickly begins to enjoy her job and become accustomed to their lifestyle, so that after a time when Benedict proposes they get married, she accepts.
The problems began when soon after their marriage, Prudence has her DR. We, the readers, have seen the sideways glances and little smiles and know that Benedict has been in love with Prudence since they first met.
So Benedict gets a little touchy when he thinks that Prudence is a little too fond of his best friend, Everard, and Prudence thinks Benedict is in love with an old girlfriend, Myra. Of course Prudence is trying to fix up Everard with an old flame, Joanne. Prudence, with her red hair and green eyes reminded Everard of Joanne and Prudence happens to meet Joanne, now a widow.
Prudence succeeds in getting Everard and JoAnn together. Benedict must go to England and takes Prudence and Sibella with him; Sibella to stay with Nancy and James while Prudence will travel with him on his lecture tour.
By the end of the tour, Prudence is fed up that she and Benedict have had no time to talk. Benedict drives to Warwick Castle where he finally declares his love for her. Not a lot of romance but still a lovely ending.
I like this a lot. Sibella is a darling and so is Benedict. Prudence is a lovely heroine with her red hair, green eyes and temper to match. They are a believable couple and one can imagine them living happily ever after.
Tony's behavior at and following the wedding make up Prudence his mind: she is going to find a job and break up with Tony. Benedict offers her a job at his home as a personal assistant. His home by the way is in Appeldoorn, Holland, and he has a young daughter, Sibella.
Prudence quickly begins to enjoy her job and become accustomed to their lifestyle, so that after a time when Benedict proposes they get married, she accepts.
The problems began when soon after their marriage, Prudence has her DR. We, the readers, have seen the sideways glances and little smiles and know that Benedict has been in love with Prudence since they first met.
So Benedict gets a little touchy when he thinks that Prudence is a little too fond of his best friend, Everard, and Prudence thinks Benedict is in love with an old girlfriend, Myra. Of course Prudence is trying to fix up Everard with an old flame, Joanne. Prudence, with her red hair and green eyes reminded Everard of Joanne and Prudence happens to meet Joanne, now a widow.
Prudence succeeds in getting Everard and JoAnn together. Benedict must go to England and takes Prudence and Sibella with him; Sibella to stay with Nancy and James while Prudence will travel with him on his lecture tour.
By the end of the tour, Prudence is fed up that she and Benedict have had no time to talk. Benedict drives to Warwick Castle where he finally declares his love for her. Not a lot of romance but still a lovely ending.
I like this a lot. Sibella is a darling and so is Benedict. Prudence is a lovely heroine with her red hair, green eyes and temper to match. They are a believable couple and one can imagine them living happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2014
I liked this. A marriage of convenience story about Emma who wanted to get out of a rut, including an engagement to a man who really didn't care about her.
The trigger is Benedict van Vinke who is the best man at her sister's wedding. After a discussion with him Emma suddenly realises that she doesn't have to stick with boring Tony who seems to never want to get married. All she needs is a job that will convince him that she's serious. Benedict has just the thing. A general household help for him and his young daughter. Yes, the dear man is a widower...who will be in need of a wife. There are plenty of possibles, Emma discovers but there might also be romance for herself with Benedict's friend Everard.
Which is probably why Benedict pops the question before he's quite certain of Emma's feelings and so we have just as many misunderstandings and heart burnings after the marriage as before. And there was one moment...the red roses...*fans self*...very emotional.
A very enjoyable story with the usual cast of characters.
The trigger is Benedict van Vinke who is the best man at her sister's wedding. After a discussion with him Emma suddenly realises that she doesn't have to stick with boring Tony who seems to never want to get married. All she needs is a job that will convince him that she's serious. Benedict has just the thing. A general household help for him and his young daughter. Yes, the dear man is a widower...who will be in need of a wife. There are plenty of possibles, Emma discovers but there might also be romance for herself with Benedict's friend Everard.
Which is probably why Benedict pops the question before he's quite certain of Emma's feelings and so we have just as many misunderstandings and heart burnings after the marriage as before. And there was one moment...the red roses...*fans self*...very emotional.
A very enjoyable story with the usual cast of characters.
May 14, 2017
I usually enjoy Mrs Neel's stories. I know what is to be expected.
The H is just shy of 38 and the h is 27 years old. Of course, there is a marriage of convenience which in Neeldom is the equivilent of dating. The MCs annoyed me. A better title to this story would have been, Almost Too Late But, Thank God!, We Finally Shared Our Feelings.
The H is just shy of 38 and the h is 27 years old. Of course, there is a marriage of convenience which in Neeldom is the equivilent of dating. The MCs annoyed me. A better title to this story would have been, Almost Too Late But, Thank God!, We Finally Shared Our Feelings.
July 16, 2018
Descubrí a Betty Heels y me he vuelto una adicta a esta escritora... no sé qué haré cuando se me acaben sus novelas.
Las historias son bien ñoñas, pero creo que por eso me gustan. Se parecen todas entre sí, pero disfruto del romance algo ñoño y pasado de moda.
Me gusta el estilo rosa (pero para nada dulzón), sobrio y recatado de sus romances.
Me leí estas novelas en un lapso de una semana y todas se leen fácil y rápido... la reseña completa aquí:
http://perezosa69.blogspot.cl/2018/04...
Las historias son bien ñoñas, pero creo que por eso me gustan. Se parecen todas entre sí, pero disfruto del romance algo ñoño y pasado de moda.
Me gusta el estilo rosa (pero para nada dulzón), sobrio y recatado de sus romances.
Me leí estas novelas en un lapso de una semana y todas se leen fácil y rápido... la reseña completa aquí:
http://perezosa69.blogspot.cl/2018/04...
December 15, 2014
The heroine confused me, I couldn't decide if I liked her or not. I stuck with like because she was adorable and kind hearted and chattered so much.
The ending, oh God. I wanted more! This was way too short, even for Betty Neels! Their story definitely required a longer ending than 2 pages.
The hero, needless to say, I loved loved loved him. He was *sigh* so dream-worthy. Loved his mood swings and his absent mindedness and how he loved the heroine so passionately.
The angst was so bittersweet ❤ Very unusual for a BN novel. The angst it packed stabbed me right in the chest. The only reason I'm not giving this book a 5 star rating is because of the ending.
The ending, oh God. I wanted more! This was way too short, even for Betty Neels! Their story definitely required a longer ending than 2 pages.
The hero, needless to say, I loved loved loved him. He was *sigh* so dream-worthy. Loved his mood swings and his absent mindedness and how he loved the heroine so passionately.
The angst was so bittersweet ❤ Very unusual for a BN novel. The angst it packed stabbed me right in the chest. The only reason I'm not giving this book a 5 star rating is because of the ending.
June 1, 2021
Could not have written better. It was heart warming, beautiful romance with a very well developed story which I could not get enough of it, all of its misunderstandings, jealously and love scenes were just right and reading it was so much fun and really enjoyable. The main characters are very lovely and I just love Benedict and Prudence and don't forget Sibella whom I think was the most cute child in all Betty Neels's books. I LOVE THIS BOOK AND I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT TO ALL.
May 4, 2022
This was a nice cozy story with a wonderful hero and heroine quite suited to each other. Benedict and prudence meet during her sister's wedding and when Benedict offers prudence an assistant job prudence grabs it with both hands as she has just broken her engagement with Tony a selfish pompous guy.
Prudence moves to Holland with Benedict and starts lookaftee his small daughter and helping him in general. Over time Benedict realizes that prudence be a good wife for he( herein a widow from quite a few years) and prudence likes the idea of friendship and compatibility in their marriage over love, they get married and shortly prudence realizes that she loves Benedict a lot, but Benedict is as usual and just friendly which irks her. What follows are a few misunderstandings and finally they confess their love for each other. I really liked the characterisation and the story had a good flow with no drags.
Highly recommended
Prudence moves to Holland with Benedict and starts lookaftee his small daughter and helping him in general. Over time Benedict realizes that prudence be a good wife for he( herein a widow from quite a few years) and prudence likes the idea of friendship and compatibility in their marriage over love, they get married and shortly prudence realizes that she loves Benedict a lot, but Benedict is as usual and just friendly which irks her. What follows are a few misunderstandings and finally they confess their love for each other. I really liked the characterisation and the story had a good flow with no drags.
Highly recommended
December 16, 2016
One of the first Harlequin authors I remember reading. I was completely enthralled by the exotic locales in her books when I was 14. Now reading these books are more of a way of remembering the aunt who got me started on them. I'll probably always love them due to the nostalgia factor. her books will always be some of my favorites to re-read.
March 12, 2016
Lovely Story About Lovely People
Delightful story with plenty of traveling, eating, sightseeing, and gorgeous homes to entertain. Loved the little girl as rendered by Betty Neels, save for the fact that she was almost perfect in her behavior and never sloppily sick!
Delightful story with plenty of traveling, eating, sightseeing, and gorgeous homes to entertain. Loved the little girl as rendered by Betty Neels, save for the fact that she was almost perfect in her behavior and never sloppily sick!
April 9, 2018
A good story. I just re-read the story and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ms Neels writes a clean romance.
July 31, 2018
Lovely
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
January 22, 2021
I actually really liked this one. (Despite the multiple slights towards redhaired people xD) I've read a lot of Betty Neels books over the past few months (because I received a pdf pack with loads of themm, and they're easy reads) and found most of them very formulatic. This one however turned things up a bit. We have the heroine and hero who actually talk and spend time together. Wow. I know. And there's an 'other woman' but she's hardly of any importance, and there's an 'other man' as well, who arguably has a bigger role in the story, which was a nice change. The book is still filled with cliches, but this time the cliches are different. Our hero is a widow, with a young daugther. The heroine isn't a nurse, and breaks her engagement right at the beginning of the book. Herself. She's not dumped, she does the dumping. They have a marriage of convenience, which results into the heroine falling for the hero who of course loved her at first sight. But their interactions are cute and the heroine bonding with the daughter was super fun to read as well. There weren't many, if any, frustrating scenes, and this is one of my favourite Betty Neels books to date.
December 29, 2025
4.3 stars. This was a lovely tale, low angst but never boring. It was gentle and sweet and full of the cozy betty goodness.
Pretty Prudence (27) has been engaged to self-obsessed architect Tony for 4 years and he very much takes her for granted and wont set a wedding date and makes her feel like she is a nobody who can afford to wait for marriage until it is convenient for him. When her younger sis gets married, she meets the best man, dutch GP Benedict (37), and they are friendly to each other from the start and, when Tony is rude to her about the time she spent chatting to Benedict, she finds herself going to find Benedict again and asking him whether he would be peeved if his fiancee was talking to other men. He says yes, but only because he wants her all to himself and not because of "what people would say" which was what Tony was concerned about. He kindly tells her to not be upset by Tony's attitude.
He's quite private about himself and after the wedding is over, she finds herself wondering about him a bit. Meantime, Tony is being a pompous ass and she realises she doesnt want to marry him. But, because she's never worked, she feels useless and decides she needs to train for something and find a job so that she has something to do with her life and not look pathetic once she breaks up with him. She tries to upskill her typing and shorthand and apply for jobs. (She's comfortably supported by her parents and doesnt actually need to work, but she wants to prove herself and also knows her parents would quite like to have some time to themselves and were looking forward to that after Prudence was married, which she is no not going to do.)
A few weeks later she goes to dinner at her newly wed sisters house and meets Benedict again and he is friendly as ever. She ends up telling everyone she won't marry Tony, but that she hasnt told him as he wont take her seriously unless she has a job lined up. But Tony turns up unexpectedly and the pressure is on to tell him, so Benedict says if you really need a job you can come to Holland and be my girl Friday type and companion to my little daughter. She agrees in a hurry just so she can break up with Tony, who is as disbelieving and scathing as she feared he might be.
Next thing we know, she is off to Holland to live in Benedict's house, where she gets along with his sweet cheerful 6 year old daughter. She learns he's a widower, and he's very busy with working all the time, and she ends up being equally busy working nonstop at his house sorting out his letter, typing replies, doing various things to help around the house and entertaining Sibela, the 6 yr old daughter, when she is home from school and basically being a full time nanny.
SPOILERS AHEAD
She finds herself lonely though, and wishes she could spend more time with Benedict, but he seems far too busy to notice, plus there is an OW, beautiful Myra, who sometimes pops around to keep him company in the evening. During a dinner party Benedict throws, she meets a doctor friend of his, Everard, who asks her out and offers to give her a tour of the hospital. She eagerly agrees as he is a nice man. But she finds herself wishing it was Benedict who had offered to give her the tour.
In fact, she has been feeling protective over benedict esp when he is so tired from his late hours, but sometimes felt snubbed by him when she tried to look after him a bit, and so she keeps reminding herself she is only his paid staff
Benedict starts to show a hint of jealousy at her dating Everard, but she doesnt notice this. She enjoys her day out with him, but when he next asks her out, she cant go because a whooping cough epidemic has hit and she is extra busy filling in for Benedict's sick secretary at his office. The work hard together, sometimes snarking at each other, but like good friends who can always say what they need to to each other.
The next time she goes out on a date with Everard, she comes home and Benedict comes out of his study to chat to her. They talk about Everard needing a wife, and about being old enough to want a sensible match who is a good firend, and he says "You should marry me and we could have that kind of marriage. thinka bout it" and goes back to work.
She goes upstairs feeling angry and baffled, and in a fury about leaving him at once and going home to england. But the next day, when he just carries on as normal as if he never said it, she decides that he must not have meant it, and anyway, she cant leave little sibela behind so suddenly.
Its about a week before he mentions it again, persuading her that their marriage could be a happy one, a rational one without the crazy falling in love nonsense, which they are both too old for. She thinks about it and ends up agreeing.
She returns home to England for a few weeks until their wedding, a small one in England, after which she returns to holland as his wife and picks up the threads of life exactly the same as before. She is fairly content, and Benedict treats her well, and spends family time with her and Sibela whenever he can.
However, the OW turns up to see Prudence at the house and makes it clear she intends to try to steal benedict away, and Benedict guesses the OW came to cause drama and he just laughs it off. Its at this point that Pru realises she has fallen in love with Benedict and suddenly she is raging jealous of the OW.
Then, when Everard comes to visit one day, Benedict returns home from work to find her having a friendly chat with Everard and he goes a bit cold on her about it. (Jealous.) and he goes even colder on her after they are invited to a dinner party at Everard's house and he catches Everard and Prudence having a v cozy chat. Everard had been showing Pru the house and he ended up confessing that twice he'd considered marriage, the first girl Joanne married someone else, but she had also been a redhead like Pru, and the second time was Pru herself, but that he intends to be friends and not make trouble for them. She is sad for him and sympathises, and she figures out her must still love Joanne and only likes Pru for being a redhead too, but Benedict happens to see Pru kiss Everard on the cheek and say that she makes rash decisions sometimes (like Joanne), like her sudden decision to marry Benedict.
Benedict is really mad about it but she doesn't realise this, even when they leave early, supposedly to give the other old lady guest a lift home because she was tired, but benedict tells Pru that really he old lady just made and excuse for him because he was the one who couldnt stand to be there any more and wanted to leave early. again, pru is confused and doesnt know what he meant. (The poor man is jealous, Pru!)
So anyway, there is a little gentle back and forth with the OW and OM that causes them to get tense and incommunicative with each other. There is a side story where Pru accidentally meets Joanne, who has returned from USA as a widow, and she plays cupid to introduce Joanne to Everard again, but Benedict thinks she is sneaking around to meet Everard and he becomes chilly with her. When he realises his mistake, he tells her what he thought, and she ends up mad at him for not trusting her.
ENDING SPOILERS
The ending was nice enough but didint have any major drama or a third act breakup. Basically she is still mad at him when the time arrives for a ten day lecture tour around england that he has asked her to go on with him. She gets increasingly frustrated as they have hardly any time together alone during the tour. eventually it's over and he says its time for us to speak, and he confesses he loved her from the first time he laid eyes on her at her sisters wedding, but that he tried to be a friend in the hope she might end up falling for him. She confesses she has loved him for some time now too. Kisses. HEA. The end.
CONCLUSION
I enjoyed it, but it wasnt quite 4.5 stars because it was a low angst tale and I give my higher ratings to Betty's angstier tales usually. This was a gentle ambling cozy kinda read, no dull spots, but I dont feel the tearing need to re-read it in a hurry.
Also, the book didnt have the depth of character sympathy we get in other betty books where the heroine is a truly impoverished/mistreated underdog working hard for her pennies. Prudence has never worked and always lived comfortably off with her parents. Plus hero Benedict isnt heartbroken and cynical/tortured like the more icehole Betty heroes. He's a nice guy who, although he's had a not-so-happy marriage, has escaped relatively unscathed and was rubbing along fairly content with his life until he met Prudence and realised he'd be happier being a married man again.
Pretty Prudence (27) has been engaged to self-obsessed architect Tony for 4 years and he very much takes her for granted and wont set a wedding date and makes her feel like she is a nobody who can afford to wait for marriage until it is convenient for him. When her younger sis gets married, she meets the best man, dutch GP Benedict (37), and they are friendly to each other from the start and, when Tony is rude to her about the time she spent chatting to Benedict, she finds herself going to find Benedict again and asking him whether he would be peeved if his fiancee was talking to other men. He says yes, but only because he wants her all to himself and not because of "what people would say" which was what Tony was concerned about. He kindly tells her to not be upset by Tony's attitude.
He's quite private about himself and after the wedding is over, she finds herself wondering about him a bit. Meantime, Tony is being a pompous ass and she realises she doesnt want to marry him. But, because she's never worked, she feels useless and decides she needs to train for something and find a job so that she has something to do with her life and not look pathetic once she breaks up with him. She tries to upskill her typing and shorthand and apply for jobs. (She's comfortably supported by her parents and doesnt actually need to work, but she wants to prove herself and also knows her parents would quite like to have some time to themselves and were looking forward to that after Prudence was married, which she is no not going to do.)
A few weeks later she goes to dinner at her newly wed sisters house and meets Benedict again and he is friendly as ever. She ends up telling everyone she won't marry Tony, but that she hasnt told him as he wont take her seriously unless she has a job lined up. But Tony turns up unexpectedly and the pressure is on to tell him, so Benedict says if you really need a job you can come to Holland and be my girl Friday type and companion to my little daughter. She agrees in a hurry just so she can break up with Tony, who is as disbelieving and scathing as she feared he might be.
Next thing we know, she is off to Holland to live in Benedict's house, where she gets along with his sweet cheerful 6 year old daughter. She learns he's a widower, and he's very busy with working all the time, and she ends up being equally busy working nonstop at his house sorting out his letter, typing replies, doing various things to help around the house and entertaining Sibela, the 6 yr old daughter, when she is home from school and basically being a full time nanny.
SPOILERS AHEAD
She finds herself lonely though, and wishes she could spend more time with Benedict, but he seems far too busy to notice, plus there is an OW, beautiful Myra, who sometimes pops around to keep him company in the evening. During a dinner party Benedict throws, she meets a doctor friend of his, Everard, who asks her out and offers to give her a tour of the hospital. She eagerly agrees as he is a nice man. But she finds herself wishing it was Benedict who had offered to give her the tour.
In fact, she has been feeling protective over benedict esp when he is so tired from his late hours, but sometimes felt snubbed by him when she tried to look after him a bit, and so she keeps reminding herself she is only his paid staff
Benedict starts to show a hint of jealousy at her dating Everard, but she doesnt notice this. She enjoys her day out with him, but when he next asks her out, she cant go because a whooping cough epidemic has hit and she is extra busy filling in for Benedict's sick secretary at his office. The work hard together, sometimes snarking at each other, but like good friends who can always say what they need to to each other.
The next time she goes out on a date with Everard, she comes home and Benedict comes out of his study to chat to her. They talk about Everard needing a wife, and about being old enough to want a sensible match who is a good firend, and he says "You should marry me and we could have that kind of marriage. thinka bout it" and goes back to work.
She goes upstairs feeling angry and baffled, and in a fury about leaving him at once and going home to england. But the next day, when he just carries on as normal as if he never said it, she decides that he must not have meant it, and anyway, she cant leave little sibela behind so suddenly.
Its about a week before he mentions it again, persuading her that their marriage could be a happy one, a rational one without the crazy falling in love nonsense, which they are both too old for. She thinks about it and ends up agreeing.
She returns home to England for a few weeks until their wedding, a small one in England, after which she returns to holland as his wife and picks up the threads of life exactly the same as before. She is fairly content, and Benedict treats her well, and spends family time with her and Sibela whenever he can.
However, the OW turns up to see Prudence at the house and makes it clear she intends to try to steal benedict away, and Benedict guesses the OW came to cause drama and he just laughs it off. Its at this point that Pru realises she has fallen in love with Benedict and suddenly she is raging jealous of the OW.
Then, when Everard comes to visit one day, Benedict returns home from work to find her having a friendly chat with Everard and he goes a bit cold on her about it. (Jealous.) and he goes even colder on her after they are invited to a dinner party at Everard's house and he catches Everard and Prudence having a v cozy chat. Everard had been showing Pru the house and he ended up confessing that twice he'd considered marriage, the first girl Joanne married someone else, but she had also been a redhead like Pru, and the second time was Pru herself, but that he intends to be friends and not make trouble for them. She is sad for him and sympathises, and she figures out her must still love Joanne and only likes Pru for being a redhead too, but Benedict happens to see Pru kiss Everard on the cheek and say that she makes rash decisions sometimes (like Joanne), like her sudden decision to marry Benedict.
Benedict is really mad about it but she doesn't realise this, even when they leave early, supposedly to give the other old lady guest a lift home because she was tired, but benedict tells Pru that really he old lady just made and excuse for him because he was the one who couldnt stand to be there any more and wanted to leave early. again, pru is confused and doesnt know what he meant. (The poor man is jealous, Pru!)
So anyway, there is a little gentle back and forth with the OW and OM that causes them to get tense and incommunicative with each other. There is a side story where Pru accidentally meets Joanne, who has returned from USA as a widow, and she plays cupid to introduce Joanne to Everard again, but Benedict thinks she is sneaking around to meet Everard and he becomes chilly with her. When he realises his mistake, he tells her what he thought, and she ends up mad at him for not trusting her.
ENDING SPOILERS
The ending was nice enough but didint have any major drama or a third act breakup. Basically she is still mad at him when the time arrives for a ten day lecture tour around england that he has asked her to go on with him. She gets increasingly frustrated as they have hardly any time together alone during the tour. eventually it's over and he says its time for us to speak, and he confesses he loved her from the first time he laid eyes on her at her sisters wedding, but that he tried to be a friend in the hope she might end up falling for him. She confesses she has loved him for some time now too. Kisses. HEA. The end.
CONCLUSION
I enjoyed it, but it wasnt quite 4.5 stars because it was a low angst tale and I give my higher ratings to Betty's angstier tales usually. This was a gentle ambling cozy kinda read, no dull spots, but I dont feel the tearing need to re-read it in a hurry.
Also, the book didnt have the depth of character sympathy we get in other betty books where the heroine is a truly impoverished/mistreated underdog working hard for her pennies. Prudence has never worked and always lived comfortably off with her parents. Plus hero Benedict isnt heartbroken and cynical/tortured like the more icehole Betty heroes. He's a nice guy who, although he's had a not-so-happy marriage, has escaped relatively unscathed and was rubbing along fairly content with his life until he met Prudence and realised he'd be happier being a married man again.
October 24, 2012
Main characters- Prudence, Benedict and Sibella(daughter)
After abrubtly ending her long engagement with Tony, Prudence accepts Benedict's offer to follow him to Holland and become his secretary and be his daughter's companion. Everything changed after Benedict's cold marriage proposal and Prudence worked to get back thier friendship to the warm and cozy way it was when they first met at Nancy's(her sister)wedding, while wishing to be a Mom to Sibella and a good wife to Benedict.
After abrubtly ending her long engagement with Tony, Prudence accepts Benedict's offer to follow him to Holland and become his secretary and be his daughter's companion. Everything changed after Benedict's cold marriage proposal and Prudence worked to get back thier friendship to the warm and cozy way it was when they first met at Nancy's(her sister)wedding, while wishing to be a Mom to Sibella and a good wife to Benedict.
August 20, 2011
Wonderful :)
July 20, 2013
I don't know what it is, but I didn't care for this hero as much as the others, and I was a little confused. I thought he was a GP but then he went on a lecture tour like a professor. Hmmmm.
May 5, 2015
Wonderful MOC story
November 16, 2025
Never Too Late from 1983 features one of Betty's tall, beautiful heroines (the Olivia). I might be in the minority, but I tend to enjoy this trope a little less than the stories featuring the Araminta type (short, plain, beautiful eyes, impoverished). In this story, the Olivia is called Prudence. She is a 27-year-old green-eyed redhead, a vicar's daughter, and as the story opens, she's been waiting around living at home while her pompous fiance decides when he won't be too busy to actually marry her. She's pretty fed up with his pomposity and his delays and after meeting the H Benedict at her sister's wedding, she promptly decides to cut loose the fiance, although it takes her a very long time to decide she's in love with Benedict. Benedict is a rich Dutch doctor (the RDD) and he takes the opportunity to whisk Prudence off to Holland to be his general factotum and minder for his six-year-old daughter Sibella. Yep, our RDD is a widower. It's also pretty clear from the get-go that he fell in love with Prudence at first sight and that he's focused on getting her out of the fiance's orbit. Once in Holland, Prudence is installed in his gracious and large home complete with multiple faithful family retainers and the aforementioned small daughter, who loves Prudence right away and vice versa. Prudence spends hours everyday doing the flowers, typing letters, sorting correspondence and picking Sibella up from school. When another rich Dutch doctor (that's right, we get TWO RDDs) comes nosing around beautiful Prudence, Benedict decides it's time to lock this down to safeguard his interests (if you read between the lines) and proposes a marriage of convenience. They get married, things tootle along for a while, with the waters being slightly muddied by both the other RDD and a wannabe OW. But after we get pages and pages of both Prudence and Benedict paying obvious lip service to being "just good friends" and both suffering from OM/OW- induced jealousy, eventually things get sorted out.
So is this a wonderful addition to Neelsland? Well, it is a re-tread of similar BN MOC plotlines. Prudence is basically the same character as any other of Betty's Olivias: friendly and good-hearted, snappy sometimes and occasional bouts of temper that blow over fast. The setting and FFRs are identical to other MOC stories too. The difference is with Benedict. He's different enough from most RDDs that I found him to be quite notable. He's characterized as placid and controlled, but he's an exacting and demanding employer. He doesn't ask or explain. He just expects you to comply and he'll be annoyed if you fall short. He's also got a temper, something Betty alludes to with other RDDs. But I posit that while those other RDDs are cranky and occasionally disillusioned, Benedict seems to suffer from actual anger problems- but ones he's worked hard to control. I have to applaud Betty's writing skill; if I were to meet him in real life, I think he would make me uncomfortable, and then I would wonder why I was reacting that way. He's lovely with his daughter. He does work hard to maintain that trademark RDD pleasant, courteous and calm demeanor. But he's different from the RDD who gets annoyed when his honor is questioned. It's like that brusque, angry, exacting nature is the true state of affairs, but overlaid with the aspect of the RDD. Or you know, maybe I've just read too many Bettys in too short a period of time.
All in all, this is an unremarkable MOC story, which I admit are usually not my favorite of Betty's plots. Benedict is interesting, though. 3 stars for the story. 4 stars for an unusually complex RDD.
So is this a wonderful addition to Neelsland? Well, it is a re-tread of similar BN MOC plotlines. Prudence is basically the same character as any other of Betty's Olivias: friendly and good-hearted, snappy sometimes and occasional bouts of temper that blow over fast. The setting and FFRs are identical to other MOC stories too. The difference is with Benedict. He's different enough from most RDDs that I found him to be quite notable. He's characterized as placid and controlled, but he's an exacting and demanding employer. He doesn't ask or explain. He just expects you to comply and he'll be annoyed if you fall short. He's also got a temper, something Betty alludes to with other RDDs. But I posit that while those other RDDs are cranky and occasionally disillusioned, Benedict seems to suffer from actual anger problems- but ones he's worked hard to control. I have to applaud Betty's writing skill; if I were to meet him in real life, I think he would make me uncomfortable, and then I would wonder why I was reacting that way. He's lovely with his daughter. He does work hard to maintain that trademark RDD pleasant, courteous and calm demeanor. But he's different from the RDD who gets annoyed when his honor is questioned. It's like that brusque, angry, exacting nature is the true state of affairs, but overlaid with the aspect of the RDD. Or you know, maybe I've just read too many Bettys in too short a period of time.
All in all, this is an unremarkable MOC story, which I admit are usually not my favorite of Betty's plots. Benedict is interesting, though. 3 stars for the story. 4 stars for an unusually complex RDD.
February 24, 2018
I like this story because it's my favourite trope: a marriage of convenience and the hero was already in love with the heroine when he proposed! Moreover it was a love at first sight for him!
Better still, he actually put on the engagement ring for her and not just gave her the box like many other BN heroes...
Prudence was a feisty but sweet heroine. I like how much was made out of Prudence's red hair, she had the temper to match and secretly Benedict also had one! But he's learnt to control his temper as befitted a mature man. Good riddance to the insufferable Tony!
I am glad the stepchild in this instance was sweet and adorable, not the spoilt brat set out to hate the heroine.
As for the Other Woman here, she's a non-entity. She only appeared in a couple of short scenes, making rude comments about Prudence's red hair (and Prudence had the perfect classy response!) and some evil insinuations to sow discord...
SPOILERS
Now we have an Other Man to keep our hero on his toes! Of course it was all perfectly innocent but Benedict got to see and hear the most incriminating things and got his knickers in a twist so to speak.
He had introduced Everard to Prudence and was making jokes about him being potentially a husband for Prudence. Poor Everard was even asked to be the best man and we didn't get to see his point of view until later...when he confessed it wasn't till meeting Prudence that he thought of moving on from his first and only love who also had red hair and green eyes...
Turned out Prudence became the unlikely matchmaker! Sweet side story.
Overall Benedict was a really nice hero, gentlemanly and caring. Except those parts where he acted aloof and in the end I got frustrated like Prudence because of the delay in having The Talk. Maybe he was afraid she'd leave him so all his delay tactics?
It was a very sweet ending though...he wanted TEN MORE kids?!
Better still, he actually put on the engagement ring for her and not just gave her the box like many other BN heroes...
Prudence was a feisty but sweet heroine. I like how much was made out of Prudence's red hair, she had the temper to match and secretly Benedict also had one! But he's learnt to control his temper as befitted a mature man. Good riddance to the insufferable Tony!
I am glad the stepchild in this instance was sweet and adorable, not the spoilt brat set out to hate the heroine.
As for the Other Woman here, she's a non-entity. She only appeared in a couple of short scenes, making rude comments about Prudence's red hair (and Prudence had the perfect classy response!) and some evil insinuations to sow discord...
SPOILERS
Now we have an Other Man to keep our hero on his toes! Of course it was all perfectly innocent but Benedict got to see and hear the most incriminating things and got his knickers in a twist so to speak.
He had introduced Everard to Prudence and was making jokes about him being potentially a husband for Prudence. Poor Everard was even asked to be the best man and we didn't get to see his point of view until later...when he confessed it wasn't till meeting Prudence that he thought of moving on from his first and only love who also had red hair and green eyes...
Turned out Prudence became the unlikely matchmaker! Sweet side story.
Overall Benedict was a really nice hero, gentlemanly and caring. Except those parts where he acted aloof and in the end I got frustrated like Prudence because of the delay in having The Talk. Maybe he was afraid she'd leave him so all his delay tactics?
It was a very sweet ending though...he wanted TEN MORE kids?!
April 17, 2024
Another novel by Betty Neels that I enjoyed.
Prudence has been engaged to Tony for 4 years with no date for a marriage...she got tired of waiting, gave him back his ring to his surprise, got a job with a Dutch doctor, Benedict van Vinke who lived in Holland but often gave talks and demonstrations in England.
At the friend's wedding, Prudence realized she didn't have a job to go to when Benedict spoke up and said he needed a 'Girl Friday' in his work and home. He has a 6-year old daughter from a first marriage...the mother died in a car accident when coming home from a party.
Prudence moved to Holland, loved the child Sibella, learned to speak Dutch, typed faster, wanted to know all about Benedict's work, and then she fell in love with him. Once that happened she was not happy but all worked out nicely as usual.
Prudence has been engaged to Tony for 4 years with no date for a marriage...she got tired of waiting, gave him back his ring to his surprise, got a job with a Dutch doctor, Benedict van Vinke who lived in Holland but often gave talks and demonstrations in England.
At the friend's wedding, Prudence realized she didn't have a job to go to when Benedict spoke up and said he needed a 'Girl Friday' in his work and home. He has a 6-year old daughter from a first marriage...the mother died in a car accident when coming home from a party.
Prudence moved to Holland, loved the child Sibella, learned to speak Dutch, typed faster, wanted to know all about Benedict's work, and then she fell in love with him. Once that happened she was not happy but all worked out nicely as usual.
January 7, 2022
A Woman Meets a Man and Love
Prudence is engaged to Tony for 4 years but feels he neglects her for his work. She decides to end their engagement and find work. She is offered a job by widower Dr Benedict van Vijn taking care of his daughter, and a little light secretarial work. As the weeks go by she finds herself doing more and more. One evening he suggests they marry and Prudence agrees. Will they fall in love or not?
Prudence is engaged to Tony for 4 years but feels he neglects her for his work. She decides to end their engagement and find work. She is offered a job by widower Dr Benedict van Vijn taking care of his daughter, and a little light secretarial work. As the weeks go by she finds herself doing more and more. One evening he suggests they marry and Prudence agrees. Will they fall in love or not?
May 23, 2025
A typical Betty Neels story about love between two people at odds. Prudence was hired to act as a girl Friday and companion to Benedict’s young daughter.
When do you suggested a marriage of convenience, as friends with a common goal, prudence thought it wasn’t a bad idea. When she realized she had feelings for Benedict, she had hoped that he would at some point return those feelings. The road to happily ever after was brought with inconsistencies and questionable feelings. All in all a sweet story that doesn’t in fact and happily.
When do you suggested a marriage of convenience, as friends with a common goal, prudence thought it wasn’t a bad idea. When she realized she had feelings for Benedict, she had hoped that he would at some point return those feelings. The road to happily ever after was brought with inconsistencies and questionable feelings. All in all a sweet story that doesn’t in fact and happily.
November 26, 2025
Never too Late
I do love Betty Neels’ books! This a sweet story of a widower who convinces a girl to work for him taking care of his daughter, and then marries her under the guise of being friends and the trials they go through before admitting they are in love with each other. The people are interesting, his daughter is wonderful, and their HEA is perfect!
I do love Betty Neels’ books! This a sweet story of a widower who convinces a girl to work for him taking care of his daughter, and then marries her under the guise of being friends and the trials they go through before admitting they are in love with each other. The people are interesting, his daughter is wonderful, and their HEA is perfect!
February 19, 2021
Nice switch up for Betty Neels, the Doctor is a widower with a child! Sweet.
March 19, 2022
"...remembered with the clarity of thought which comes with the dead of night...."
March 27, 2023
one of my top five favorite Bettys so far!
January 28, 2025
Great escape
February 21, 2020
Still good
But a little less than some I have read. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading this book. The "let's marry before we love each other is not always my favorite.
But a little less than some I have read. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading this book. The "let's marry before we love each other is not always my favorite.
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